Naturalization Process and Records

Each stage of the naturalization process was recorded in the county where the applicant resided at the time of filing. For this reason, documentation for an individual may be in multiple counties records. In many cases, the additional documentation may exist elsewhere in the United States. Our project, once completed, will link all of Washington's counties into one database, enabling researchers to search the naturalization records in Washington.

Naturalization records used to vary in form and the amount of information recorded; in 1906 naturalization documents became standardized and more complete. The naturalization process usually resulted in three primary documents: Declaration of Intention, Petition for Naturalization, and Naturalization Record or Certificate.

Until 1952, the Declaration of Intention was required as the initial document filed. It signaled the applicant's intention to remain in the United States and acquire citizenship. Once the applicant could claim continuous residence for at least five years, he or she filed a Petition for Naturalization. If the Petition was accepted, citizenship and a Certificate of Naturalization were awarded.